Storm damage to a Camillus roof: golf-ball hail in the record and what you can see

NOAA's storm records show golf-ball hail of 1.75 inches at Camillus on April 26, 2011, a 1.50 inch hail report from that date, and a one-inch report in June 2007. Across the county, NOAA lists 343 thunderstorm wind events since 1996, on 125 separate days.

Those are historical records, not forecasts, and they say nothing about your roof. In the county hazard plan the Camillus town annex names no unique vulnerabilities and lists no past weather events. Take storms seriously, but do not assume damage.

After any storm, look from the ground. Check the yard, the gutters and the metal edges. Photograph what you find with the date, and tell the roofer.

A roofer can tell you whether marks on shingles come from hail or from age. A written estimate that says what was found, and where, is more useful than the word hail on its own.

A Camillus village house is often older than a town ranch, so its roof may show wear that has nothing to do with the storm. A few lifted tabs, a dented vent or a bare patch is a repair. A slope of bruised shingles is a larger job.

In the estimate, the roofer should separate storm damage from ordinary wear. If they cannot tell, they should say so. Honest uncertainty is a better sign than a confident word replacement.

A stranger at the door after a storm who says you need a new roof can wait a day for you. Ask for a written estimate and compare it with another. A contract must give you three business days to cancel.

The state's insurance regulator explains that a roof claim may be paid at actual cash value, which deducts depreciation, or at replacement cost, depending on the policy and on how much of the home's value it covers. Read yours before the roofer arrives.

We do not file claims or deal with adjusters, and a roofer's estimate does not set what your insurer pays. It gives you a written scope of work. The regulator also warns that some insurers restrict the number of small claims in a short period, so ask how yours counts them.